Delray Rawlins is poised to rejoin Paget Lions for their Premier Division clash against St George’s Colts at Wellington Oval today (3pm).

The Bermuda cricket captain has been absent from Antwan Russell’s team for their past three matches and is fresh off competing with Florida Scorpions at the US Open Cricket T20 tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The powerful striker has four goals under to his belt, including a brace in his team’s 3-2 loss away to Hamilton Parish at Wellington Oval, and will be keen to add to his haul on his return.

Paget coach Russell is delighted to have Rawlins’s valuable services at his disposal once again.

“Delray is back and we are actually at full strength. I have a few college students that are back and I think we will have one of our better teams,” Russell told The Royal Gazette.

“Delray was definitely a miss, which is no secret as our other striker, Omari Tucker, is battling a hamstring injury.

“If Omari was fit, we would not have missed Delray so much, but he just brings us a bit of quality and calm.

“He spends time on the ball which gives us time to breathe. So when you take a player like that out of your team, it gets a little difficult, especially since I am not playing any more.

“Delray is a constant threat in front of goal and is just a good guy to have around in the dressing room.”

Paget have not enjoyed the best of times lately and will be keen to snap a three-game losing streak in the league heading into the mid-season break.

“If we can end the first half of the season on a good note it would give us a little bit of momentum going into the new year, that’s how I am looking at it,” Russell added.

While results have not gone his team’s way in recent weeks, Russell says morale remains high in the camp.

“We actually feel good. Every game we have felt good going in and have been in every game,” he added.

“We have probably been like one mistake away from winning every game, that’s how I look at it. So the little mistakes that we are making, if we can get them right tomorrow, I am pretty sure that we can get the desired result.

“It’s two teams that are struggling at the moment but not because of the quality in the team because there is quality in both teams and that’s just how football goes.

“Sometimes you can do everything right and the ball just does not fall for you. But we just have to stick it out and grind through the bad times; just give our best effort and hopefully the ball falls tomorrow.”

While he does not intend on lacing up his boots, Russell has yet to officially bring the curtain down on his career.

“I won’t call it an official retirement because if required I will play,” he said.

“I told my players don’t quit on me because I won’t quit on them. So if they ask me to play, I will.”

Paget are fourth in the standings, four points ahead of St George’s, who are hovering just above the relegation zone and are also in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Despite of their own struggles of late, St George’s coach Jarreau Hayward believes his team is rounding into good form heading into what he anticipates will be a tough battle against the visitors.

“Paget are a really good team. They are hungry and well coached,” he said. “Maybe they have surprised some, but not me.

“We are obviously searching for some form, so we will continue that journey at Wellington Oval on Saturday. It is as vital as any match we play.

“I feel we are one win away from rediscovering our form, so hopefully that win comes on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, football action continues on Boxing Day at Southampton Oval where Hamilton Parish will square off against Somerset Trojans in the first Friendship Trophy semi-final (2.30pm).

That contest will be preceded by the first First Division semi-final pitting Somerset Eagles against St David's Warriors (noon).